Snow Report 30 December 2016 - Europe & Japan

Happo One 29.12.16 - Happo Facebook

A return to sunny days on the pistes for the European Alps. Meanwhile, in Japan the snow has been falling very nicely indeed and just in time for the end of year holidays.

JAPAN

There have been some great falls of snow across Japan over the last few days and this snowy weather pattern is set to continue.

The season is well under way and all areas are open now.

Snow returns tonight and continues on and off into the weekend, which brings some sunny spells for a great new year's skiing and riding on the slopes.

Conditions at my featured Japanese ski resorts:

Yuzawa (Joetsu Kokusai) - 40cm at top (1,017m)

Nozawa Onsen 29.12.16 - www.nozawaski.com/

Niseko (Grand Hirafu) - 230cm at top (1,000m), 85cm at base

Nozawa Onsen - 95cm at Yamabiko (1,407m), 30cm at Nagasaka (616m)

Hakuba (Happo One) - 80cm at top (Usagidaira), 20cm at bottom

Zao Onsen - 60cm at top, 5cm at base

Myoko Kogen - 100cm (Akakan)

FRANCE

Fine and sunny weather returned to the French Alps after last week's snowfall. A burst of snow, followed by a long run of sunny, mild weather has characterised the start to winter in France. Perhaps that trend will change in the new year.

Val Thorens 28.12.16 - Val Thorens Facebook

More sun and no snow, at least for this weekend. Considerable snow is needed to get the most terrain open.

Conditions at my featured French ski stations are:

Val Thorens - 55cm@2300m, 30/30 lifts, 71/85 pistes

Val d'Isere - 30cm@1850m, 71/77 lifts, 129/167 pistes

Chamonix (Grands Montets) - 25cm@1972m

Isola 2000 - 5cm@2000m, 37 pistes

Serre Chevalier - 92cm@2100m, 51/62 lifts, 57/81 pistes

Les Arcs - 10cm@1600m, 43 lifts, 70 pistes

Val d'Allos - 30cm@1800m, 18/28 lifts, 24/63 pistes

Grand Tourmalet -  30cm@1800m, 16/30 lifts, 16/61 pistes

ITALY

Cervinia made the news last week for the wrong reasons - hundreds of skiers stuck on a cable car for hours.

Madonna di Campiglio 27.12.16 - Madonna DC Facebook

More snow is needed in Italy for the lower altitude ski resorts, while the big ski areas with snowmaking are faring well.

Conditions at my featured Italian ski stations:

Madonna di Campiglio - 40cm@2250m, 0cm@1500m, 18/19 lifts, 28 runs

Madesimo - 20cm@1550m, 50cm@3000m,11/13 lifts, 18/32 runs

Monterosa - 10/150cm, 44/45 lifts, 63/93 runs

Val Gardena - 199/207 lifts open across Dolomiti Superski